COWBOYS, INDIANS & LAWYERS follows the fortunes of two enemy camps as they struggle over the fate of the free-flowing Animas River in Colorado. A dam project called ALP was authorized by Congress over 30 years ago to help white farmers irrigate desert lands, but has never been built. The dam is tied to massive development plans including coal mines, power plants, and housing developments.

With the Southern Ute Indian tribe recruited as a key promoter, Sage Remington-- a radical Southern Ute activist--pits himself against his own tribal government and their politically connected lawyer, Sam Maynes. While Sam's friendship with the tribal chairman helps solidify the tribe's alliance with developers, Sage finds allies in a ragtag group of white environmentalists.